State Helps 900 Maryland Businesses Compete with Confidence

Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs Increases Statewide Outreach Impact in 2019

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs announced it has hosted 20 business development and training events in the first six months of 2019, reaching nearly 900 small, minority, women, and veteran business owners and entrepreneurs.

“This effort is making a big impact on the small business community,” said Jimmy Rhee, special secretary of the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs. “According to post-event surveys, the vast majority of the participants were ‘very satisfied’ with their experience, and they tell us first-hand how these events give them the practical information needed to navigate the procurement processes.”

The Ready, Set, GROW! Procurement Connections Workshop is the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs’ signature outreach event. The workshop is held every two months at locations around the state. Participants meet face-to-face with government buyers at the state and local level, and Governor’s citations are presented to distinguished small business owners from the local community. Eight citations have been presented so far in 2019.

"Attending these outreach events has helped me to grow my business," said Yazdani ‘Dani’ Syed, owner of Digitized Logos, a promotional products provider located in Montgomery County. "We're doing business with several state agencies and even broke into the casino industry because we attended outreach events hosted by the state."

The Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs also hosts the Technical Training Classrooms on the fourth Tuesday. Each two hour session features a subject-matter-expert from a state agencies or a small business resource organizations. Small business owners teach classes as well. Topics include Negotiation Strategies & Closing Techniques, Proposal Writing Basics, Small Business Emergency Preparedness, and State Procurement 101.

“Maryland is open for business, and we want our small businesses to compete with confidence,” said Secretary Rhee, “Our outreach programs help these firms navigate the state procurement process, while improving overall operational efficiencies.”

All outreach events hosted by the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs are provided at no cost. In the second half of the year, 17 more events will occur in Allegany, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Harford, Montgomery, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, as well as Baltimore City.

“We could never do this alone,” stated Secretary Rhee. “We get tremendous support from our sister agencies as well as stakeholders throughout the community. Small business is the backbone of our economy and we’re all invested in their success.”

Visit goMDsmallbiz.maryland.gov to view the full 2019 outreach schedule.